Goldfinger: Live at the House Of Blues DVDLive at the House Of Blues DVD (2004)Kung Fu Records

Reviewer Rating: 3.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: maverickScott(others by this writer | submit your own)Published on March 26th 2004Kung Fu's The Show Must Go Off! live concert DVD series continues with Episode 11, featuring Southern California's own, Goldfinger. Watching this made me wax nostalgic with fellow editor Adam about how, long ago, we both loved Goldfinger.
Of course, this was back in 1996 - simpler times, to be s.

Kung Fu's The Show Must Go Off! live concert DVD series continues with Episode 11, featuring Southern California's own, Goldfinger. Watching this made me wax nostalgic with fellow editor Adam about how, long ago, we both loved Goldfinger.

Of course, this was back in 1996 - simpler times, to be sure. The Internet wasn't nearly as culturally influential as it is now [so we both weren't nearly as antisocial and reclusive as we are], nor was Goldfinger as crazily militant as they are now about veganism and the like. Basically we were two adolescent kids discovering the joys of punk rock, and Goldfinger delivered it to us in a skankable, moshable, pogoable, singalongable package.

Amazingly, 8 years later, they're still delivering that same package to hoardes of kids every night, and I find myself wishing I could have been in the crowd the night this DVD was filmed. John Feldmann and company don't just play a show - they put on a show. It's entertaining without being too stupid, and even though they do something as absurd as faux-goosestepping offstage with your bandmates at the end of your set to a metal riff, you still look at it and say "that's kinda cool."

The DVD is filmed very well, with over a half-dozen angles throughout the concert used. The sound is amazingly thick for a live show - whoever worked the soundboard that night deserves a round of applause for catching all of Feldmann's vocal tricks through the stage PA. I must also applaud the band's stage manager - he works just as hard as the band, it seems. If you watch the DVD, you'll understand.

My only real complaint about the DVD is it's brevity - clocking in at about 45 minutes, including encore, the band only plays 14 songs. To put it into perspective, their longtime touring partners and labelmates Reel Big Fish's DVD ran close to an hour and a half, and that band has less material than Goldfinger. Sure, they play the "hits" ["Superman," "99 Red Balloons," and rather cardboard runthroughs of "Here In Your Bedroom" and "Mable"], but where's all the other great anthems from their self-titled disc on?

What the DVD lacks in actual performance content, it makes up for it in the "bonus footage" of the band out on the road. This mini-documentary is a good half hour or so of the band's history, from it's first show up to present day. It is hands down the best extra on any of the Show Must Go Off! DVDs thus far. This is how they should all be done.

If you're a fan of the band, this is definitely something to pick up, although you've been warned about the short running time. If you've always wanted to give them a listen, this isn't a bad place to start as their performance samples all four of their albums. All in all, it let me pretend I was 14 again, and I don't mind that feeling one bit.

On one hand, many animals hunt for their food. On the other hand, that is the balence of nature, and their prey doesnt spend its life tortured in a factory. And yes, we do have predominantly carnivorous teeth, but we also have predominantly herbivorous digestive systems. It is my theory that humans evolved with the ability to eat both meat and plants as a last resort in case one becomes scarce.

I am a vegetarian, mostly because I tend to be healthier when I am not eating meat. I figure anything that keeps me skinnier (and therefore laid more), doesnt wreak havoc with my body (countering all the booze), doesnt make me give up food (my friends can never tell if their eating real meat or not at my house), keeps me from having to cook (you never have to worry about if you undercooked your veggie burger) and doesnt contribute to the needless suffering of intelligent creatures really cant be that bad. It's not cool to make fun of someone just because they dont like to eat your favorite foods.

However, it also is definately not cool to harass someone just because they do eat meat. It doesnt make them a murderer or nazi. I have lots of meateating friends who would never dream of hurting an animal. Like i said before, im a vegetarian not a vegan and i feel that im still being lashed out at by these bands because i choose to eat milk and eggs.

To sum up, it shouldnt matter if you eat any, some or no animal products at all. Choosing not to consume animal related products is a big and deeply personal comittment albeit a healthier one (at least for me.) No amount of preaching or militant fanatacism will ever change that.

Anonymous (June 23, 2004)

soy weiner rules

Anonymous (April 6, 2004)

"No, I KNOW the taste & convienience outweigh the lives of the animals!"

Tough guy, huh? Mind if I eat your dog/cat for lunch? Yeah, I know you're pretty attached to it, and I am capable of living a healthy life without killing animals, but I REALLY would like the taste of your little puppy/kitten.

Anonymous (April 2, 2004)

what the fuck? goldfinger sucks

Anonymous (April 2, 2004)

"If you choose to eat meat at this point in time, you are doing so because you think that the taste and convienience of meat eating outweighs the lives of the animals who suffer for your pleasure."

No, I KNOW the taste & convienience outweigh the lives of the animals! Fuck you vegan assholes, I'd tell ya to suck my dick but it's not made of soy so you can't

Anonymous (April 1, 2004)

Horns?

Anonymous (March 31, 2004)

Bojangles is good. In Richmond, I eat at Lee's Famous Recipe. Rumor has it, the colonel stole his recipe from Lee, no shit.

Church's Chicken is good too.

-sickboi

Anonymous (March 31, 2004)

Two more songs they should play live are "Margaret Ann" and "Forgiveness".

wow, no anything or this lonely place? those are 2 classics, although i despise these guys now after the events of the past few years (charlie leaving, feldman producing shitty bands, gf releasing their weakest cd, the vegan rampage and insults, and feldmans asshole attitude towards his target audience, he had some really ignorant quote in the latest AP about how the people who talk shit on goldfinger or the used/story of the year are 'probably 'gay, fat and 15'.

Anonymous (March 30, 2004)

I bought this for nostalgia's sake. It's pretty good, and the bonus footage has some great Darren stuff (and I agree with a previous poster, he's one of the most underrated drummers around). But this band has a lot of songs that kick ass which were missing. Here's my top GF songs that didn't end up on the DVD and the way-too-short set:

- Anything
- This Lonely Place
- FUCK LA (The City With Two Faces)
- Get Away
- Chris Cayton
- Spokesman
- I'm Down
- Dont' Say Goodbye
- My Head
- King For A Day
- Chicken McNuggets Are Bad For You
- Going Home
- Too Late
- The End of the Day
- Fuck You and Your Cat

What argument?! All I see is hate for vegans. No valid meat eating arguments have been brought up here.

It is possible to sustain a long and healthy life as a vegan/vegetarian. Period. If you choose to eat meat at this point in time, you are doing so because you think that the taste and convienience of meat eating outweighs the lives of the animals who suffer for your pleasure.

"you vegans need to chill out. the preaching is getting way old and your lateral thinking on the slaveowner/meateater issue is asinine. this proves you have no real arguement so you go to extremes, next we're all nazis too i bet. have fun stifling your homoerotic thoughts while watching your ufc crap jockboy. p.s. i know hitler was a vegetarian, don't bother pointing it out."

hahahah, exactly

and as for the guy saying 'don't talk shit its not nice'...this is punknews.org, where talking shit is encouraged. i take my stress out on all of you.

Anonymous (March 30, 2004)

you vegans need to chill out. the preaching is getting way old and your lateral thinking on the slaveowner/meateater issue is asinine. this proves you have no real arguement so you go to extremes, next we're all nazis too i bet. have fun stifling your homoerotic thoughts while watching your ufc crap jockboy. p.s. i know hitler was a vegetarian, don't bother pointing it out.

"Where do you train in mma? How's your ground game? You're quick to pick a fight with someone that you don't know."

This was in response to the claim that I would have my little vegan ass knocked into next week. Fighting has been refined into a chess like sport within the last decade or so (mma=mixed martial arts fighting/UFC). Several of us cross train in different fighting arts (thai boxing, wrestling, BJJ, etc.). Fighting consists of 2 arenas: standup (kick boxing, boxing) and the ground game (submission, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, etc.). I am more than capable of handling myself in a fight. Some fighters like Frank Trigg (world ranked welterweight) are very successful in competition and follow vegan/vegetarian diets.

I avoid talking shit these days because you never know if the little guy your knocking knows his shit.

By the way, you guys should check out the upcoming UFC on PPV on April 2nd. It will be a great show. Tito Ortiz vs. Chuck Liddel will finally happen.

"Several herbevore (sp?) primate species have these my friend. "
yes this is true, i don't want to go into details cuz its fucking pointless, but i took 2 evolution classes in college (sex and evolution/physical anthropology). we have not evolved into herbevors. we are carnivors. are bodies have not caught up with science, science is evolving much faster than we are.science has enabled us to not eat meat but our bodies still have a natural ability to eat and digest it, and a natural desire to eat it. also our closest link to primates is the chimpanzee, whom are carnivors also. look some of this shit up on the internet or maybe get a text book out.

"Where do you train in mma? How's your ground game? You're quick to pick a fight with someone that you don't know. That's pretty funny." ( i dont' understand this comment)

and the slaveholder argument is rediculous. as rediculous as the presidents rhetoric. take a rhetoric class and you'll see how fucked up your logic is.

goldfinger are still old boring vegan fucks. feldman couldnt be less punk.

Anonymous (March 29, 2004)

"So, wait - I'm a slaveholder if I eat meat?"

Nope, but anytime anyone tries to justify killing/exploiting animals for pleasure (tastes better, easier to obtain) by claiming that they shouldn't be bothered by the other side's point of view it reminds me of the calousness of slaveholders to the lives of their slaves.

"If you don't want to own a slave, that's fine. Just don't bitch at me about owning one."

Anonymous (March 29, 2004)

So, wait - I'm a slaveholder if I eat meat?

Slavery has never tasted so good.

Anonymous (March 29, 2004)

Famous Dave's BBQ is good too....

Mmmm...double-MEAT platter....droooooooooool.

-sickboi

Anonymous (March 29, 2004)

"herbavors don't have those"

Several herbevore (sp?) primate species have these my friend.

Where do you train in mma? How's your ground game? You're quick to pick a fight with someone that you don't know. That's pretty funny.

also, i would be vegan, but the lifestyle is too expensive and the food doesnt taste good yet (except morningstar farms hot dogs , they are good)

and yes, eating meat isnt necessary anymore due to science, but technically we havent evolved to not be carnivors anymore (open your mouth....do you see canine's in there? thats for ripping meat from bone. herbavors don't have those.)

"2.the vegan thing is really condecending, I mean go ahead and be vegan but don't yell at me for not being one"

The same argument was used by slaveholders in the past.

Anonymous (March 29, 2004)

My argument is that those 11 herbs and spices taste a million times better than rabbit food.

-sickboi

Anonymous (March 29, 2004)

And if you want to argue the ridiculous "well, being vegan isn't natural" point then what's so fuckin' natural about eating genetically altered chicken that was pumped full of growth hormones from KFC or factory produced meat from McDonalds?!

Anonymous (March 29, 2004)

"Should bears, sharks, lions and tigers be vegan too?"

No. They are carnivores that lack the physical and intellectual capabilities to survive on a plant based diet. By nature, they MUST consume meat to survive. Humans, on the other hand, have evolved to a point that allows us to obtain all the neccessary nutrients needed (protien, vit B12, iron, etc.) through plant/man made/non animal sources. There is no arguing this point. It is scientific FACT. The only justification for consuming animal products by Americans at this point in time is that they are easier to obtain and taste better than vegan options (and I would beg to differ with that).

Being vegan is an option for humans at this point in time. It is not for other carnivorous species.

Anonymous (March 29, 2004)

-PETA are assholes. Ever heard of the food chain? Should bears, sharks, lions and tigers be vegan too? You fucking idiots.

1.open your eyes is so half assed and highligts why feldman should stick with producing the next big thing...
2.the vegan thing is really condecending, I mean go ahead and be vegan but don't yell at me for not being one
3.these dudes are old
4.we can thank feldman for story of the year and the used
5.feldman is an asshole
6.they peaked on their first record almost 10 years ago
7.they are old as shit
8. feldman signed a band that plays goldfinger better than goldfinger (mest)

Anonymous (March 29, 2004)

I love this band. Always have. Always will. I've been vegan myself for years so their new militant Peta stance is actually refreshing to me. I can't wait to get a hold of this DVD.

Don't forget, folks, that if you do not like what a band is doing you can simply choose to ignore them. Some of you are internalizing a lot of hate for something you should simply turn away from.

And why the hostility towards John's work as a producer?! It gets his bills paid. Beats sitting in the cubicle that I'm sitting in right now. Most of you keyboard warriors would shit a brick if you actually had the opportunity to do what he does for a living. Quit pretending otherwise.

With each review from this DVD series, I cannot help but just wonder how incredible the Alkaline Trio disc could have been, as the lack of interesting features, questionable camera-work, and poor show selection really soured what could have been a great gift for any Trio fan.

Now on a completely unrelated note, for whatever reason I have just received a letter from the Sevendust mailing list. Yuck.

Holy shit!! He did Story of The Year!?! This man's reign of terror must come to an end! Goldfinger is the definition of "nose dive". Simon leaving the band was paralysing, Charlie's departure just put the sick dog to sleep...

Anonymous (March 26, 2004)

I love Goldfinger, as long as I listen to the first 2 albums, and even Darrin' Coconut Ass. Stomping Ground had it's moments, but the new disc just plain sucks. But they put on a great show.
PS-Did Feldman produce Simple Plan? I was only aware of The Used and Story Of The Year. Shamefully, I have heard the Simple Plan CD, and it doesn't have a Feldman Produced sound. It does suck, like the SOTY album, but doesn't have that tone like The Used/SOTY.
PPS-Fuck SOTY

Anonymous (March 26, 2004)

I suppose that you have to go vegan and be all about a cause when you realize that you're a "punk" band on the same label as Britney Spears.

What Scott left out of his original "wax nostalgic" tale is that now my opinion of Goldfinger had soured quite a bit. What an amazing career move was it to go from being a fun pop-ska band with memorable tunes to the bitchy, generic PETA house band. How we got from "Mable" and "Superman" to "Open Your Eyes" I'll never know.

If that's not enough, John Feldmann's gone on to back some absolutely wretched acts.

Blagh.

-adam

Anonymous (March 26, 2004)

My only complaint about this DVD release is that it features Goldfinger, a band that blows more goat schlong than any other in the history of the fucking world.

For all you hardcore kids who like Goldfinger, check out a band by the name of Electric Love Hog...you might recognize a few of the members. Poseurs.

Anonymous (March 26, 2004)

1. goldfinger gets my utmost respect for taking a flying leap off the ska bandwagon once ska went dead.

2. this ain't goldfiner without charlie.

3. john feldman produced simple plan. nuff said

4. does this band EVER tour with anyone besides reel big fish?

5. goldfinger needs to hang it up. they need to make room for just plain mediocre bands.

Anonymous (March 26, 2004)

Of the four kung fu dvd's I've seen this is the worst and I thought it would be the best. The new Vandals one is my favorite since it was so long and they played a great set.

The most dissapointing thing about this Goldfinger show was the length.....I refuse to look at the back of live cd/dvd's so I'll be surprised when I watch/listen to it. So when they went off stage and said "we'll be back in 2-3 minutes" I thought oh good they're going to play a nice long encore. But the encore was just one frickin' song??